Toon Talk: Enchanted DVD
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You’ll want to head straight to the “Fantasy Comes to Life” section, where the movie’s three Oscar nominated song sequences are highlighted. “Happy Working Song” shows how all the real rats, pigeons and various CGI critters were choreographed into the memorable number, while “That’s How You Know” includes rehearsal footage of how all the dancers, gymnasts and what-nots were corralled together for the Central Park showstopper. “A Blast at the Ball” focuses on the special effects that were used to bring the fairy tale climax to life, including shots of “damsel in distress” Patrick Dempsey dangling from what appears to be a giant wad of day-glo green Flubber.

The final bonus is a big tease for the Enchanted Blu-ray, which features all of the above and something more: “The D-Files”. As we all know by now, Enchanted is loaded with a host of hidden (and not so hidden) references to classic Disney films (see sidebar below). The set top activity rewards players who spot them with a short featurette showing the original Disney reference; high scoring players are then treated to three extra videos: “Making Ever Ever After”, “So Close” and “True Love’s Kiss”.

Enchanted was more then just inspired by the animated fairy tales that came before it ... it is practically a visual encyclopedia of iconic imagery from the studio's catalog of classics. Here are some of the best (slightly spoilerish) examples:

• The film opens with a storybook, as several Disney masterpieces have.
• The troll that threatens Giselle is wearing remnants of past Disney princess dresses as a loincloth; he also wears Ariel's shells as earrings.
• The rose bell jar from Beauty and the Beast can be seen in Giselle's cottage.
• Giselle's journey through the magic wishing well is similar to Alice's journey to Wonderland.
• Upon arriving in New York, Giselle mistakes a little person for Grumpy.
• The last name of Patrick Dempsey's character is Philip, as in Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty; the last name of Idina Menzel's character is Tremaine, as in Lady Tremaine from Cinderella.
• During "Happy Working Song" (a direct descendant of "Whistle While You Work" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Giselle is seen reflected in soap bubbles, à la Cinderella.
• The bus driver's hair is shaped like Mickey Mouse ears.
• The name of Robert's law firm -- Churchill, Harline & Smith -- is an homage to Snow White songwriters Frank Churchill, Leigh Harline, and Paul J. Smith.
• The couple seeking divorce is named Banks, as in the Banks family from Mary Poppins.
• Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in The Little Mermaid, plays Robert’s secretary; during her scene in the law offices, "Part of Your World" can be heard playing on the Muzak system.
• When Nathaniel offers Giselle a poisoned caramel apple, it bears the same skull-shaped design as the Queen's apple in Snow White.
• The fellow in the yellow jacket during the "old folks" section of "That's How You Know" is Harvey Evans, who played one of the dancing chimney sweeps in Mary Poppins.
• Later during the same musical number, a children's theater is seen performing Rapunzel, soon (finally) to be a major motion picture from Disney Feature Animation.
• The hotel that Edward stays out is called the Grand Duke, à la Cinderella.
• During the hotel room scene, a soap opera is seen on the television; Paige O'Hara, who voiced Belle in Beauty and the Beast, plays the actress, and the Beauty theme song can be heard as the underscore; scenes from Dumbo and Fun and Fancy Free can also be heard on the TV.
• The Italian restaurant is named "Belle Notte", after the song from Lady and the Tramp; plus, James Marsden (Prince Edward) singing "That's Amore" can be heard at the start of this sequence.
• The TV newscaster, Mary Ilene Caselotti, is named after the original voices of Princesses Aurora (Mary Costa), Cinderella (Ilene Woods) and Snow White (Adriana Caselotti).
• The harried mother who tells Edward that he is "too late" is played by Judy Kuhn, the singing voice of Pocahontas.
• The choreography and cinematography during "So Close" is reminiscent of the ballroom scene in Beauty and the Beast; Robert's costume in this scene resembles the Beast's as well.
• At different points in the movie, Queen Narissa transforms into an old crone, just like the Queen in Snow White, and a giant dragon, just like Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty.
• When Prince Edward puts the slipper on Nancy, it is a perfect fit, again à la Cinderella.
• The Lion King's Pumbaa makes a cameo appearance during the final montage, standing in line waiting for Pip's autograph.
• And finally: it all ends with a "happily ever after", courtesy of narrator (and Disney Legend) Julie Andrews.